Goode and uranium mining

By Published by The Editorial Board

Published: September 3, 2008

Who’s really out of touch?

To the editor:

I saw a video clip on television in which Democratic congressional candidate Tom Perriello claimed U.S. Rep. Virgil Goode was “out of touch” with the people of the 5th District.

Perriello is a guest speaker at the University of Virginia’s law school. I guess this is all he can do in the great state of Virginia, since he is a member of the New York state bar and is not eligible to practice law in Virginia.

This is coming from a man who puts “Tom’s Life of Service” on his Web site? The first thing that came to mind is how old is this guy? If he were John McCain, I would have to take the statement a little more seriously.

Tom is against drilling for oil. Tom is against keeping illegal aliens out of the country, plus he wants to keep the ones we already have. Tom is for bigger government and taxes. Tom is for hugging a tree while Americans could be drilling in Alaska and getting paid well.

After all, we cannot afford to all go out and buy new cars and go green all at once. Perhaps Tom can. Sounds like Tom is out of touch with everything — except for our illegal aliens and trees.

E. WYATT MOORE

To the editor:

It is almost unbelievable! President George H.W. Bush pushed for the North American Free Trade Act and President Bill Clinton made sure it got passed. Unfortunately, our former congressman, L.F. Payne (who I always liked) voted for NAFTA. That trade bill has become the worst thing that could have ever happened to the working people of Southside Virginia.

Since that time, U.S. Rep. Virgil H. Goode has consistently voted against the increasing trade deficit our country has with many Third World countries. We now have a lot of people asking frustrated citizens who have lost their job to “vote for a change …vote Virgil Goode out of office.” That’s like saying, “Let’s punish the guy who has fought so hard to help us and be our voice in Congress.” The only change we need in Congress is to get more people in there who think and vote like Goode. 

MIKE ROGERS

To the editor:

Cancer is a devastating and heartbreaking disease which none of us want to have. As everyone knows, it can be a debilitating illness that robs one of their health and drains them financially and emotionally.

In Pittsylvania County, there is a proposal for a uranium mine and milling plant in Coles Hill. When the mining is done and the leftover products (tailings) are piled high into the air, we are wide open for cancer-causing agents. This will greatly increase our chances of lung and bone cancer, along with leukemia and fibrosis of the lung (scarring).

Tailings will be blown by the wind for thousands of miles and will affect many people. It will come to us in the form of rain, snow and dust. This, in turn, will affect our water and vegetation. Not only will there be a dose from breathing, but also from the food we eat and the water we drink. The Banister River will be exposed to the seepage from the tailings, which will get into the river and will make its way into water sources from Virginia Beach to North Carolina.

Low-level radiation is implicated in birth defects, high infant mortality and chronic lung, eye, skin and reproductive illnesses. Help us to stay healthier. Keep uranium mining out of the area.

SUE POE

Gretna